Obesity is a public health problem that has been on the rise for the last four decades. Roughly 52% of the world’s population is either overweight or obese [1]. At the same time, people of all shapes and sizes are very concerned about their body weight and aspire to accomplish a lean and aesthetic figure that, in some cases, might be very difficult to obtain and maintain.
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Losing weight and staying fit comes from combining healthy lifestyle habits, like eating a well-balanced and portion-appropriate diet and regular exercise. Yet, many people struggle to change their daily routines to accommodate a healthier way of life. In this circumstance, some people might feel tempted to resort to other methods to lose weight, such as the consumption of non-prescribed weight loss pills.
Weight loss pills have proven effective for losing weight under certain conditions and under medical supervision. However, many people use over-the-counter weight loss pills assuming that they are safe and that they can do no harm. However, most of the weight loss pills, and general weight control products (such as dietary supplements and laxatives), are not FDA approved, their effects and, in some cases, their ingredients remain unknown, and their usage is considered not only un-safe, but even dangerous. On the other hand, even most FDA approved weight loss pills are only meant for short-term usage and remain unsafe if consumed in a longer term.
In what follows, we will discuss some of the most common side effects of the most popular weight loss pills available on the market.
At LIMARP International Center of Excellence for obesity, located in Tijuana, Mexico, we offer safe, effective, and integral obesity treatments that adapt to your personal needs. If you’re interested in knowing more about obesity treatments, don’t hesitate and contact us today.
Weight loss pills usage
In 2011, it was estimated that approximately 2.74 million patients were using obesity drugs in the United States [2]. This is not a very high number considering the fact that, in the United States, 37% of adults suffer from obesity [3]. But this number doesn’t consider non-patients or people who use over-the-counter, non-prescribed weight loss pills.
According to a study that involved a phone survey with 14,679 adult Americans in 1998, 7% of those surveyed reported using at least 1 non-prescription weight loss product during the previous 2 years. The usage of non-prescription products was particularly high among women struggling with obesity. However, according to the same study, as many as 8% of normal-weight women also reported using non-prescription weight loss products [4].
With the weight management industry expected to grow at a strong 7% in the next 7 years [5], we can surely expect these percentages to be much higher nowadays.
Let’s set this very clearly:
It is a bad idea to take weight management medication with the sole purpose of improving the way you look. The usage of weight loss pills and supplements should be meant for improving a patient’s health and quality of life.
Health care professionals usually prescribe weight loss pills to treat obesity and overweight in adults that have a body mass index (BMI) higher than 30 or higher than 27 if the patient is also suffering from an obesity related disease like type 2 diabetes or hypertension. The usage of weight management drugs should be in addition with a healthy diet and regular exercise, or a supervised lifestyle program, since they don’t accomplish weight loss merely by themselves.
Weight loss pills benefits
When taken responsibly and with the proper guidance of a health care provider, weight loss pills and medications can deliver good weight loss results.
On average, after 1 year, people who take prescription medications as part of a lifestyle program lose 3% to 12% more of their starting body weight than people in a lifestyle program who do not take medication [6].
However, most weight loss pills are not meant for long-term use. Most are meant to be used only for a few weeks, approximately 12.
Depending on the medication used, dose, patient population studied and intensity of concomitant lifestyle intervention, from 30% to more than 60% of drug-treated patients may not achieve a 5% weight reduction at 12 weeks [2].
In these cases, the health care provider will instruct to suspend the usage of that drug.
Losing as much as 10% of your initial body weight can significantly improve your overall health and can lead to an amelioration of hypertension, dyslipidemia and type 2 diabetes. In itself, losing some weight in a safe way is beneficial for a person’s quality of life and wellbeing.
FDA approved weight loss pills
Most weight loss pills and products that are easily available at pharmacies and stores don’t comply with the safety regulations established by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. There are 7 weight management medications that have been FDA approved. Some of them have been approved only for short term use (up to 12 weeks), like:
- Phentermine. A noradrenergic that causes a reduction of appetite. Examples:
- Adipex-P
- Fastin
- Oby-Cap
- Ionamin
- Diethylpropion. A noradrenergic that curbs your desire to eat. Examples:
- Tenuate & Tenuate Dospan
- Tepanil
- Phendimetrazine. A noradrenergic that suppresses appetite. Like:
- Bontril
- Benzphetamine. Also a noradrenergic that reduces appetite. As is the case of:
- Didrex
The aforementioned medications should not be used if you have a heart disease, uncontrolled high blood pressure, hyperthyroidism, or glaucoma. Among the usual side effects of these weight loss pills are:
- dry mouth
- constipation
- difficulty sleeping
- dizziness
- feeling nervous
- feeling restless
- headache
- raised blood pressure
- increased heart rate [6]
There are 3 weight loss pills meant for longer-term use that have been FDA approved:
- Orlistat. It inhibits the absorption of body fat from the food you eat. This medication is safe for children ages 12 and older. It’s sold in
- Xenical
- Phentermine plus topiramate. It causes appetite suppression. It’s the case of
- Qsymia
- Naltrexone-bupropion. It makes you feel less angry and it brings satiety sooner. You can find it as
- Contrave
Side effects for these medications depend on many different circumstances. For instance, Orlistat’s side effects include diarrhea, gas, increased defecation, defecation incontinence, oily stools, and stomach pain. Rare cases of liver injury have also been reported with the usage of this medication.
Obesity medication may elevate pulse and blood pressure, so they are not recommended for patients who have had a heart attack or a stroke of that suffer a cardiovascular condition. They should not be used while a patient is pregnant, as they could lead to complications during pregnancy and, specifically phentermine-topiramate, to birth defects.
Obesity medication should also be avoided if the patient suffers from anxiety or depression, or if she or he has a previous history of anorexia or bulimia, or if is dependent of pain medications, drugs or alcohol. Some weight loss pills can exacerbate these conditions. For instance, naltrexone-bupropion may increase suicidal thoughts and actions.
Among the most common side effects of long-term usage weight loss pills are:
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Dizziness
- Dry mouth
- Insomnia
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Increased blood pressure
- Increased heart rate
- Liver damage
- Taste alteration
Most of these side effects are mild. Serious side effects for these medications are very rare. However, in the cases of non-regulated and non-prescription weight loss pills, the side effects can be very dangerous and non-reversible. For example, hydroxycut could lead to hepatitis and jaundice; fenfluramine, to heart damage and lung disease; and sibutramine, to heart attacks and strokes [7].
Some weight loss products fail to report some of their ingredients in their labels; this makes their side effects more unpredictable, and even harder to report.
If you’re interested in taking weight loss pills, make sure you do so with the approval and guidance of your health care provider.
Contact us
If you would like to know more about weight loss pills or alternatives for obesity treatment, contact our bariatric clinic today. At LIMARP International Center of Excellence for obesity, we offer integral bariatric treatments that includes either a surgical or non-surgical intervention, nutritional guidance, psychological counselling and a personalized fitness plan tailored just for you. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation. Our team of experts will be glad to help.
References
[1] World Health Organization, “Obesity and overweight,” Apr. 01, 2020. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/obesity-and-overweight (accessed Nov. 02, 2020).
[2] S. Z. Yanovski and J. A. Yanovski, “Long-term Drug Treatment for Obesity: A Systematic and Clinical Review,” JAMA, vol. 311, no. 1, p. 74, Jan. 2014, doi: 10.1001/jama.2013.281361.
[3] World Health Organization, Noncommunicable diseases country profiles 2018. World Health Organization, 2018. [Online]. Available: https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/274512
[4] H. M. Blanck, L. K. Khan, and M. K. Serdula, “Use of Nonprescription Weight Loss ProductsResults From a Multistate Survey,” JAMA, vol. 286, no. 8, pp. 930–935, Aug. 2001, doi: 10.1001/jama.286.8.930.
[5] “Global Weight Management Industry,” ReportLinker. https://www.reportlinker.com/p05960488/Global-Weight-Management-Industry.html?utm_source=GNW
[6] “Prescription Medications to Treat Overweight & Obesity | NIDDK,” National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/weight-management/prescription-medications-treat-overweight-obesity (accessed Oct. 06, 2021).
[7] “Harmful Effects of Diet Pills and Supplements – Futures Recovery Healthcare,” Futures Recovery, Oct. 22, 2018. https://futuresrecoveryhealthcare.com/blog/harmful-effects-diet-pills-supplements/ (accessed Oct. 06, 2021).